Sherrod Brown Should Absolutely Run Again to Represent the Working Class in the Senate

2024 Election

Politics / December 19, 2024 The outgoing senator recognizes—to a greater extent than any other Democrat—the need to renew the party’s commitment to a politics of economic populism. Ad Policy Democratic senate candidate US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), addresses volunteers at a campaign office on November 4, 2024, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. (Stephen Maturen /…

Chilean lawmakers want steps taken to protect tourists

Travel

Thursday, December 19th 2024 – 10:07 UTC

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“Australia’s report comes to ratify previous warnings from the United States. This is no coincidence,” said Congressman Stephan Schubert of the Republican Party

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a report warning travelers to Chile that “muggings, armed robberies, pickpocketing and bag snatching are common” there. Tourists need also be aware of scams targetting them such as staining their clothes to distract them and then stealing their belongings. In response, Chilean lawmakers requested a special session of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Congress.

”Australia’s report comes to ratify previous warnings from the United States. This is no coincidence, it is an international alarm that reflects the deteriorated image of Chile under this government. I never read these warnings before with (Michelle) Bachelet or (Sebastián) Piñera. It is worrying because it affects our economy and tourism,“ said Congressman Stephan Schubert of the Republican Party. He also underlined the need for concrete actions to improve security.
”We will request a special session to analyze these reports and coordinate measures to reverse this image. Chile cannot afford to be perceived as an unsafe destination. We must ensure that our tourists and citizens feel protected,” Congresswoman Catalina del Real – also a Republican – stressed.
Both lawmakers insisted on summoning Ministers Alberto van Klaveren (Foreign Affairs), Nicolás Grau (Tourism), and Carolina Tohá (Interior and Public Security) to explain the measures implemented in this regard.
The Australian Government’s last update dating back to Dec. 4 states: “Latest update: We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in Chile due to the risk of civil unrest and the threat of violent crime. You need a visa to enter Chile. Ensure you apply well in advance to avoid issues on arrival…”
In this regard, the Australian Government mentioned that “muggings, armed robberies, pickpocketing and bag snatching are common. Do not walk alone, especially at night. Robberies can occur on intercity buses while passengers are sleeping. Carry your valuables with you and check everything before getting off the bus. There has been an increase in scams targeting tourists.”
Among the tips given to travelers are
• an elderly person ‘accidentally’ drops some coins and when a tourist stops to help, a thief steals the tourist’s bag
• thieves squirt a substance onto a tourist and steal their bag while helping them clean up (‘bird poo’ scam)
• tourists are quietly identified by thieves at the airport and followed to their hotels, where luggage theft or threats of assault and robberies can happen
• unofficial taxis may overcharge or rob tourists. You can hire official taxis at the booths before you exit the airport.
• rental cars can be a target for scams and thefts. Criminals may damage tires in order to rob passengers while they are pulled over. Make sure you pull over in a safe space, keep your car doors locked and do not accept assistance from strangers

Five-star coming-of-age movie ‘destined to become a classic’ is now streaming for free

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Netflix subscribers are in luck as one of the standout coming-of-age tales of recent times lands on the streaming platform, ready to be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s own home.The cinematic gem was released last year and is an adaptation of a cherished novel that debuted in 1970, winning over countless hearts across generations.Starring Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie as parents to the curious and insightful Margaret (played by Abby Ryder Fortson), the film navigates through the young girl’s spiritual dilemma upon discovering her mother’s Christian faith contrasting with her father’s Jewish beliefs.Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret delivers a poignant and comedic take on what it means to grow up without a clear religious identity and has already garnered a global fan base, reports the Mirror.Initially not making a splash at the box office, the movie adaptation of Judy Blume’s beloved book has been lauded by critics and is now positioned to charm even more viewers, thanks to its UK Netflix release.As families queue up holiday classics this festive season, they would do well not to overlook this alternative gem, which promises to captivate movie enthusiasts of any age.The flick has received an outstanding response, scoring five stars from Google users and boasting a near-perfect 99 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Empire Magazine’s glowing five-star review highlights it as “A touching and tender adaptation that does justice to a book which means so much to so many. An enduring, superbly performed triumph.”The Guardian has lavished praise on Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, awarding it a perfect five-star rating and lauding Fortson and McAdams’ performances as “remarkable”.The publication says the film is “destined to become a classic” and describes it as “an entertaining comedy that also happens to be a stunning evocation of the fear and yearning that come with standing on the precipice of adulthood.”Admirers have been vocal about the film’s incredible 1970s setting, which effectively transports viewers back to a tumultuous period in American history.A Google reviewer was captivated by the film’s opening scene, stating: “From the opening scene, the film successfully transports viewers back to the 1970s, immersing them in an era filled with nostalgia and innocence.”They praised the meticulous production design, costumes, and soundtrack for adding layers to the narrative and creating an authentic setting for Margaret’s story. Meanwhile, a Letterboxd user gushed over the movie, saying: “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is simply such a magical movie. As hysterical as it is heartwarming, endlessly empathetic, and refreshingly real about all the emotions and experiences of adolescence.”Abby Ryder Fortson is an absolute star, and Rachel McAdams is mother (literally).”It’s a gift to girls everywhere and I’m so happy future generations will have this to guide them through the mess that is middle school.”Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret is available to stream on Netflix.

Immigration lawyers tell tech workers on visas to get back to the US before Trump takes office. ‘A storm is coming.’

Technology

Tech

Immigration lawyers tell tech workers on visas to get back to the US before Trump takes office. ‘A storm is coming.’

Melia Russell

2024-12-19T10:00:01Z

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President-elect Donald Trump.

Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Immigration attorney Sophie Alcorn is sharing this advice with her high-tech clientele: Get back to the US before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Christopher Nolan names ‘masterful’ epic as his favourite film of 2024

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreOscar winner Christopher Nolan has named Gladiator 2 as his favourite film of 2024, calling Ridley Scott’s historical epic “jaw-dropping” and “masterful”.Gladiator 2, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington, was a huge success at the box office and is now being tipped for awards, having already been nominated for two Golden Globes.Ridley Scott’s film is a direct sequel to his 2000 hit Gladiator, which won five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. Nolan, who won multiple Oscars this year for Oppenheimer, has now told Variety that Scott’s latest film is the best that he has seen in 2024. As part of an article for the outlet where other directors, including Andrew Haigh and Alexander Payne, spoke about their favourite films of the year, Nolan was full of praise for Ridley Scott. Gladiator II